Signals · Cooling · first seen October 29, 2026
New York signs law barring chatbots from risky behavior with users under 18
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed S.9051B/A.10379C on Oct. 28. Companies may not offer chatbot features such as posing as a real person, claiming a relationship with a child or encouraging self-harm to users under 18, or to anyone whose age they have not confirmed, and must offer more than one way to check age. The attorney general can seek up to $25,000 per violation; IAPP reports the rules start Jan. 1, 2027.
Why it matters to a business like yours
A chat assistant on your website that answers customers or books visits could be talking to a teenager without knowing it. Ask the vendor whether it ever presents itself as a person and how it handles users who may be under 18.
Sources
- Governor Hochul Signs Nation-Leading Legislation to Protect Kids From AI Chatbots and to Ensure Baby Monitor Safety (Office of the Governor of New York, October 28, 2026)
- New York's governor signs youth AI chatbot safety bill (IAPP, October 28, 2026)
History
- October 31, 2026: Cooling